Torpedo controlling device



Feb. 1944. G. PQOKHIR E FAL 2,341,287

TORPEDO CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 m ms /02 //4 Feb. 8,, 1944. PQQKHIR ETAL 2,341,287

TORPEDO CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 50, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Feb. 8, 1944. a. POOKHIR ETAL TORPEDO CONTROLL ING DEVICE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 30, 1940 Feb. 8,1944. G, 'POOKHIR ETAL 2,341,287

TORPEDO- CONTROLLING D EVICE Filed Aug. 50, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 an JU Feb. 8, 1944. KHl r 2,341,287

TORPEDO CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Feb. 8, 1944. G. POOKHIR E l'AL TORPEDO CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS Feb; 8, 1944. PQOKHIR ETAL 234L287 TORPEDO CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 50, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS Feb. 8, 1944. G. POOKHIR ETAL 2,341,287

TORPEDO CONTROLLING DEVI GE Filed Aug. 30, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 4% HORIZONTAL DG-D.(V)

VERTICAL RUDDER I TE 54 E Patented F eb. 8,

TORPEDO CONTROLLIJNGDEVICE George Pookhir, Elmhurst, and George A. Rubissow, New York, N. Y.

Application August 30, 1940, Serial No. 354,892

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a most eflective robot weapon for moving bodies. Many types of diri bles, torpedoes, torpedo boats, mines, submarines and other marine moving bodies are known, but none of them afiords completely satisfactory service, nor are they sumciently simple and reliable in their construction, maintenance and use.

This invention refers to a new type of selfoperated or automatic self-propulsive moving bodies, in particular, torpedoes, which are able to follow automatically any desired trajectory in space or on a plane, rendering such trajectories entirely and dependably controllable in advance, by means of an extremely simple and handy device operating entirely automatically and without any assistance or interference by the will of man during its entire operation. Devices such as described in U. S. Pats. #1,923,612, 1,553,687, 1,659,653, 1,562,572, 2,094,997, 2,197,129, 2,060,208, 1,755,125, 1,865,101 1,892,431, 1,806,346, 1,517,873, 2,042,987, 1,557,832, some of which provide a very complicated electro-mechanism with which to operate a torpedo at a distance by means of an appropriate radio-transmitter and receiver, etc. are well known. Such devices are much too complicated and their use is not automatic. Moreover, they are dependent on radio-emissions, can be readily interfered with by the enemy, thus requiring permanent attention of at least several men and at least one radio-transmitter for'each torpedo in action, and are very expensive to build. Hence, their practicability is very limited in scope.

The novel features of this invention. will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings andthe appended claims. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the Figure 13 is a longitudinal-horizontal crosssectional view of Figure 12.

Figures 14 and 15 represent schematically plan views of the direction-band.

Figure -16 is a side-view of Figures 14 or 15. Figure 17 is a side-view of another type of direction band.

Figure 18 is a plan-view of Figure 17. Figure 19 is a cross-section of l9l9 of Figure 18. Figure 20 represents a plan-view of one aspect of a direction disk.

Figure 21 represents a side-view of an assembly of a plurality of direction disks.

Figures 22, 23, 24 and 25 represent side-views of different types of direction drums.

- Figure 26 represents a plan-view of an adjustable direction disk.

Figure 27 represents a side-view of a part of a guideband. Figure 28 represents diagrammatically an matically difi'erent kinds of direction-controlling discs.

Figure 9 represents schematically positions of vertical rudder and the 'trajectoryof the torpedo referred to respectively.

Figure 10 represents diagrammatically, a sideview in longitudinal vertical cross-section of another embodiment of this invention mounted on a torpedo. Figure 11 represents a longitudinal horizontal cross-sectional view of Figure 10.

Figure 12 represents a longitudinal-vertical side-view in cross-section of another embodiment of thisinvention.

aeroplane dropping a torpedo.

Figure 29 represents a schematical side-view of a parachute and a torpedo.

drawings are for the purposes of schematical illustration only, and are not intended as a deflnition as to the design or to the limits of the several aspects of this invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference char- I parts throughout the several Figure 30 represents a longitudinal cross-sec tion of a landing-switch mounted on a torpedo.

' landing-switch device.

Figures 31 and 32 and 33 represent side-views of simplified landing-switches.

Figure 34 representsa cross-sectional view 34-36 of Figure 33.

Figure 35 represents a cross-section of another Figure. 36 represents a plan-view of a direction-band with the direction-transmitting lever.

Figures 37 and 38 represent side-views of direction-band device.

Figures 39 and 40 represent respectively planviews of Figures 37and 38.

'Figure 41 represents a plan-view of another aspect of a direction-band. i

tion-band 42-42 of Figure 41 with the levergear transmitting device.

Figure 43 represents a plan-view of a section of a direction-band and the direction-transmitting lever. I

Figures 44 and 45 represent schematically trajectories of moving bodies.

Figure 46 represents a cross-section of a stopdevice.

Figures '47 and .48 are cross-sections 4I4I and 48-48 of Figure 46. 1

Figure 49 represents a diagrammatical sideview in longitudinal-vertical cross-section of another embodiment of this invention mounted on a torpedo.

' Figure 50 represents a horizontal cross-sec tional view of Figure 49. I

Figure 51 represents a side-view of a directioncontrolling device.

Figure 52 represents a schematical side-view of a moving body provided with two direction-controlling devices, horizontal and vertical.

Figure 53 represents a side-view of an air or mine torpedo attached to a wire and operated according to this invention.

Figures 54 and 55 represent diagrammatical I05, rigidly affixed in respect to the frame I06 of the torpedo I0I. The bar I02 may be a round bar, provided with longitudinal slit-formed cutout, into which a guide-member especially provided in the bearing I00 or I0'I fits, in order to prevent rotation of the bar.

The axle I 02 forms a crank surrounding .the main shaft I08 into which crank fits the bent part I09 of the axle IIO of the vertical rudder of the torpedo.

If desired, a spring III may be placed, for instance, between I 01 and I08 to assist the reciprocating movement of the bar. The axle IIO operates the vertical rudder II2 of the torpedo when the axle part I09 is pushed to and fro by the bifurcated part, I08 of the lever I02. When the pin I03 follows the guideways I0 I, the rudder H2 is turned correspondingly. The guideways may be of any desirable contour, as shown for purposes of example on Figures 4, 5, 6, 'I and 8. Should the pin I03 follows the contour of Figure 8, then, if in the beginning (position I of Figviews of the projection on a plane of the horizontal and vertical trajectories.

Figures 56 represents schematically in perspective, trajectories in space.

Figure 57- represents a schematic side-view of a horizontal depth-trajectory of one of the applications of this invention.

' Figure 58 represents a schematical side-view of a vertical trajectory corresponding to Figure 5'7.

Figures 59, 60, 61 represent a schematical planview of various trajectories. I

Figures 62 and-63 represent the same as Figs. 43 and 50.

This invention is applicable to any kind of moving bodies, in particular, such bodies. as those which are not directed by the will of man, i. e., bodies which follow, after they start to move, predetermined trajectories of their movements,

which trajectories are entirely self-controllable by means of an automatically operated device pects and applications.

For the convenience of the desc'ription, this invention will be described in relation to a torpedo. However, this does not limit itsapplication to any other type of moving body, such as non-piloted aeroplanes, air-mines, self-piloted small Zeppelin-like bombs, torpedo boats, marinemines, non-piloted submarines, air-torpedo or even ordinary boats of any kind.

The main aspect of this invention consists in a device to be mounted-on a torpedo, or'the like, which enables the torpedo to be directed automatically during its movements, so that it follows a predetermined trajectory set in advance by an automatically operated direction-controlling means. Such direction-controlling means, according to this invention, may have various embodiments.

One 'of such embodiments is shown on Figures 1 and 2 comprising a disk I00 provided with guide- 7 ways IOI of a spiral contour. A rigid bar I02 may reciprocate following its own longitudinal axis. A pin I03 is ailixed rigidly or rotatably at one end of timber I 02 and is of such a dimension that it fits into the guideways IN. The bar I02 may be square or rectangular in its crosssection and be guided through bearings I04 and ure 8) the rudder II2 on Figure 9 is in its neutral, i. e. longitudinal, position, the contour as depicted in Figure. 8, will provide corresponding movements of the rudder II2 as shown in positions I to IS in Figure 9, and the corresponding trajectory of the moving body, 1. e. of the torpedo, will be represented schematically by the contour shown in the dotted line in Figure 9.

The pin I03 starts to follow the guideway of a direction-controlling disk from the innerend, Figures 1, 4, 5 and '7, or from the outer end, Figures 6 and 8. The starting position of the pin may correspond to any desirable position oi. the rudder.

This embodiment is actuated by a motor. In the case of a torpedo propulsed by means of compressed air, a small compressed air motor (turbine or piston-like) may be switched to the disk, to rotate the same. An'electrical motor may be employed if electric energy is provided. The disk I00 may be also operated by means of gears and worm-gears rigidly aflixed to an appropriate shaft of the torpedo, for instance, the gear H3,

.afllxed' to the main shaft II4 of the torpedo; an-

- herein described and illustrated in its several esway I0! may be only a few inches long in totality,

but the displacement of the torpedo may be 10 to 15 miles and the few inches of the said guideway will then control and prescribe the trajectory of displacement of the torpedo on its total length as shown, for instance, in Figures 3., 43, 44, and 45.

The same automatic control of the rudders may also be achieved by another embodiment illustrated on Figures 10, 11, 12 and.13. In Figures 10 and 11 is shown an axle II8 rotated in the bear ings I IS-I 20 rigidly aflixed to the frame I06 of the torpedo WI. The axle H8 is actuated by means of Worm-gear I2I, a gear I22, a worm-gear I23 and a gear-disk I24. The gear-disk I24 is rigidly affixed to the axle I I8. The rudder axle I25 has its crank-lever part I20 on which one end of a flexible connection I21 is attached, and the other end rigidly attached to the shaft Hi.

cordingly altered. A spring I28 must be provided or by other guide means.

to force the crank-lever to tighten constantly the flexible connection I21. "The starting point of the rudder of such a torpedo may be as shown on Figure 11 so that the rudder will turn from I20 to I30.

The total operative length of the flexible connection I21 may be synchronized in a given scale with the total length of the displacement of the torpedo, or it may be synchronized only with a part of it. In this latter case, the shaft II8A, Figure 46, may be provided with a tubular sliding axle, I 3I, Figures 46, 47, and 48, having an arresting edge I32, so that when the flexible connection IIBB reaches the edges I32, the tubular axle I3I is pushed to its left and thereby becomesdisconnected from the shaft IIBA, Figure 46, by

ably flexible, such as metal, wood, plastic, etc., is

wound on a drum or a cylinder I36, Figures 49 and 50, and its free end is afiixed to the cylinder of another drum I31. The band I35 on its way i A direction-confrom I36 to I31 is guided by suitable means, such as, for instance, I38 and I39. One side of the band is of a straight contour and is guided by the disk surfaces of the guide drums I38 and I33, The other side of the band is of an irregular contour, such as shown in Figures 14, and 43, for purposes of example.

A lever I40 is affixed by its one end rigidly to the axle I4I of the vertical rudder I42, and by its other end is in continuous contact with the irregular contour IA of the band I35. If desired. a roller-member I43 may be mounted on the free end of the lever I40. The band I35 is unwound from thedriven drum I36 and wound up on the driving drum I31 by means of a motor-force, such as provided. for instance, by the shaft I44. a,

worm-gear I 45 rigidly affixed to the shaft. I44, gears I46, I41 and I48, a worm-gear I43 and a disk-gear I50, the latter attached to the driving drum I31. The lever I is provided with a spring I5I which presses the lever continuously against the irregular contour I35A of the band, when the same is in motion or at a standstill. The band I35, Figures 14, 15 and 16, has its neutral line I35N which should preferably be chosen as illustrated in Figures 36 or 43, i. e.

is on I35N, and the torpedo makes a straight-line trajectory IA, Figure 44.

When roller I43'passes through A, B, C, D, E, F, G, by way of example, the torpedo will make the respective trajectories A, B, C, D, E, F, G,

' shown on Figure 44.

This device providesan automatic and absolute control of the path the torpedo has to take, and is very inexpensive, simple and absolutely reliable in its construction, maintenance and use.

Any conceivable trajectories for the displacement of a moving body may be easily realised by providing the body with a correspondent direction controlling band, as aforementioned.

The band I35 may also be made from a textile or other flexible material and be composed of a support-band I56, Figures 17, 18 and 19, on which separate band-sections I51 are amxed by means of glue, bolts, or similar means I58, shown by way of example.

Instead of band I35, an endless band, as shown "on Figures 12 and 13 may be employed. However,

the contour of the band and, consequently, the trajectories of the torpedo, are limited, depending on the length of the endless hand. If the endless band is required to run continuously, i. e., several times, the torpedo will make the same number of trajectories, startin each trajectory from the position in which it was at the end of the previous position of the endless band.

The drums I36 and I31 in Figures 49 and 50 may be placed one in respect to the other as shown schematically in Figures 37, 38, 39and 40, and assisted by a driven, or driving drum I69. The operation of the roller I43 is selfeexplanatory.

The band 465 of Figures 12, 13 and 43, in-

stead of having an irregular contour I35A, may

be of uniform width, as shown on Figure 4l guide-means for the band. The band I60 is provided with a perforated direction-controlling conslightly above the middle line I35M. The irregu- 'lar contour I35A may be of any desired contour,

straight-line or curved-line, or a combination of,

both, and be between I35T and I35R. When the roller I43 of lever I40, Figure 14, is placed on I35N, then the rudder I42 is also in its normal, i. e., straight or longitudinal position, and the torpedo is displaced accordingly, following a straight-line trajectory. When lever I40 is lifted upwards from I35N, it turns the rudder I42 counterclockwise; if in a downward position, it turns the rudder I42 clockwise.

On Figures 36 and 43, the rudder-axle I52, having a crank-lever I53, and provided with ,a. bearing I54, is placed into thebifurcated lever I40B,

pivoted on the axle I rigid in respect to the frame of the torpedo, and this lever I403 is rigidly attached or forms one piece with the lever tour formed by a plurality of perforations I63.

A lever-axle I64 is mounted, having the ability of sliding through at least one, but preferably two guide-bearings, I65, I66, rigidly aflixed in respect to the frame of the torpedo. The axle I64 may move limitedly,'to and fro, longitudinally through bearings I65 and I66. A toothed wheel I61 is mounted, freely rotatable, on axle I64, between two arresting Washers I66 and I69 rigidly affixed to axle I64. Axles I64 and wheel I61 canmove to'and fro, i. e., into positions I61A and I61B.

With the assistance of an operative connection I10, rigidly aflixed to axle I64, crank-lever III of, the rudder axle I12 is operated correlatively to perforations I63. When the toothed wheel I61 contacts the perforations I63, it causes the axle I64 to follow the contour formed by the series of perforations I 63; consequently moving the rudder I13 to the left'or right.

Still another embodiment 5f the directioncontrolling device is illustrated in Figures 20, 22,

23, 24 and 25. The lever I40 (as shown in Figures 43. 12, 14. or 36), is guided by a disk-shaped member I14. When on N, the rudder is straight;

when on maximum or minimum, th rudder moves to the left and right, or vice-versa. A

plurality of such disks forms a helicoidal-drum I15, Figure 21, interconnected on a common axle I16 with suitably-shaped washers I11 separating the disks.

A helicoidal drum I18 may also he made from one piece, as shown in Figure 22, or it may take the form of'a cylinder I10, Figure 23, into which.

the helicoidal direction-contouris cut. For such latter embodiments, it will be necessary to employ a roller I80 adapted to follow the groove forming the helicoidal contour.

Still another embodiment of the directioncontrolling device is shown on Figure 51 wherein the worm-gear I8I driven by gears I82 and I83 is connected to a gear-segment I84 rigidly affixed to the rudder-axle I 85.

A torpedo, in which one of the herein described embodiments is mounted, may be" launched from a torpedo-tube, or from an aeroplane, or from a parachute. All direction-controlling devices, the subject of this invention, will hereinafter be designated as DCD. I

Fig. 29 shows a torpedo on a parachute. When the torpedo reaches the sea, the parachute is automatically disconnected from the torpedo by suitable means provided thereforsuch as, for example, a two-arm, forceps-like device I86, pro- A rubber, or elastic, or other flexible membrane I99, for purposes of insulation, may be provided between tongs I88I88 and-switches I90-I9I:

Figure 35 shows another form of switch, having a ro 200, made from a metal, and provided with a metal arresting-ring 201. The extension 20I of rod 200 is made from an insulating material and contacts thev locking-tongs 203 similar to I88I08, Figure 31. When 203 is pushed out from support 202 the rod 20I is pushed upwards and establishes contact with the other wire 208 insulated from the frame 209 by means of a washer 208.

A hand-operated safety-switch I 98 may be provided as shown on Figure 31 to permit the manipulation and transport of the torpedo prior to its launching and its connection with tongs I88 -I88 of the parachutes floater-forceps.

'As soon'as the electric current is switched on through I90, Figures 31 and 35, or I9I, Figures 31 and 35, or through 200, 201, 208, Figure 35, this current passes to the relay solenoid I 96-or, if desired, through an amp1ifier2I0-thereby operating the starting-device I91 represented, by way of example, as a lever, which lever opens the valve and starts the operation of the main motor which turns the shaft of the propellers of the torpedo.

The current from switch I90, I9I or 200 may also pass to a; vice composed of atube 2II,

Figure'30, in which an explosive compound 2I2- vided on its ends with two floaters I81. Locking Instead or a switching device, as shown on Figures 31 and 35, a device as shown on Figure 32 may-also be employed, consisting of a chamber 2I3 extending downward through the walls of the torpedo, or afllxed on the outside surface of the torpedo; one or more levers 220 pivoted on axle 22I; a chemical compound 223 which dissolves or becomes pasty or destroyed on contact with the sea, is placed between levers 220-220; a spring 224 to pull one lever toward another; whereby as soon as the chemical compound is dissolved, lever 220 is pressed by spring 224 and contact takes place.

This latter device may be connected to an amplifier and a solenoid which will disconnect the parachute from the torpedo and also start the running of the torpedo-motor.

Still another device may be used for disconnecting the torpedo from the parachute as shown on Figure 33, wherein a parachute support-ring 225 is attached by connecting means228 to the support 221, rigidly aflixed to the floater 220, filled with air or gas, or made of cork. The floater is connected with bifurcated member 229, on which two rollers 230 and 23I are mounted. A sliding bar 232 is mounted in a chamber 233 and assisted by a spring 234. A plurality of holes 235 are provided in the chamber. The spring I 236 is mounted on the bottom of the form-member 231; the. chamber 233 is filled with the chemical compound which dissolves or becomes liquid on contact with the water. The compound is placed in previously compressed bricks 238 or is compressed when charged into chamber 231.

The bar 232 locks the parachute support 230-22923I. As soon as the chemical compound contacts the water, the bar unlocks the support which is pushed out by the spring and the parachute is thus disconnected. Another spring 236 assists in pushing out support '229-23023I from the form-member 231.

The new military tactic engendered by the use of the automatic d-irigible torpedoes of the character herein described, provided with DCD, is of reat military importance. This new military tactic consists, in accordance with this invention, in the use of the herein described DOD and is exploded by means of a detonating fuse placed.

in 2I3,- into which the said current is sent. As soon as 2I2 explodes, the tube 2 is broken, and

also the rod.2 I4, whereby the parachute support 2I6 is disconnected, and at the same time, lever 2H 01' a starting-device,. is pushed to 2I1A by the spring 2I8. Thereafter, the motor of the torpedo begins to run, and the torpedo is in action,

i. e., begins to propulse. Simultaneously, the DCD its embodiments, and cannot otherwise be attained. For. this reason, this new tactic is also the subject of this patent specification.

partly submersible in the water, to be launched from a ship or from a torpedo boat. e

(5) A mine provided with self-propulsive motor and direction-controlling device.

(6) An air-torpedo or aerial-zeppelin provided with direction-controlling device.

The existing modern tactic has a very low accurate aiming percentage and several hundreds, and sometimes thousands or torpedoes, mines, etc.

must-be launched or dropped in orderto hit even,

one objective, suchv as a ship, port or other military objective. The aim of a torpedo sent'from This new tactic will be described in referencelatitude, a distance of from 7 to miles from the torpedo boat 240. These ships are dispersed over a one-square mile surface 2, and the existing type of torpedo is fired to hit one of these ships. The chances of making a direct hit, however, with that type of torpedo, is practically zero, whereas, in the same given conditions, the new tactic herein described, assures almost perfect accuracy of aim and attaimnent of direct hit at the desired objective, even if the ships are not within sight of the torpedo boat.

This is achieved, for example, by launching a torpedo equipped with a DCD in such a man- 'ner that the torpedo will be initially directed by the said direction-controllin device (DCD) toward thepoint aimed at, so that the first miles (or 7 or 10 miles) will be a straight line 242 as shown on Figure 59, or will be a curved; line 243, Figure 60, if the coast or land 244 prevents the use of straight-line trajectories,

This new type of torpedo will reach the area 24! or 245 over which the enemys ships are scattered at a desirable point set out by the DCD, for instance, at point P or Pl. Thereafter, the DCD which is set in advance, will cause the torpedo to make several spirals or curves of a suitable character, in order to make a direct hit on an enemy ship in its course within the enemy zone. For purposes of example, such spiral or curve may be of a character as illustrated on Figures 45, 59, 60 or' 61. The total length L of the trajectory of the torpedo (composed of Z3+Z5) -irom the torpedo boat 246 to the point P, and Z4 or ZS from point P to the end of the spiral (or other curve), i. e., when the torpedo stops-is equal tothe maximum radius of action of a torpedo (L=Z3+Z4 or L1=Z5+Z6) cover L= miles in total, the first distance may be Z3=8 miles and the spiral or curve from point P, 158 i. e., Z4=6 miles. The spiral or curve (Z4 or Z6) may be so predetermined and prescribed by the DCD, that each neighboring trajectory section of the spiral or of the curve, passes one from another at a distance equal to the width or the length of the enemys ships, or any desirable distance in accordance with the safety coefficient of aiming to be taken into consideration.

The choice of L or L1 and of Z3 and Z4 or Z5 and Z6 may be made in accordance with the best solution offered by the theory of variation. If a river 246 must be passed in the course of the torpedo 241, Figure 61, the DCD maybe set in advance to prescribe the trajectory 248 composed the direction in which the torpedo has to start its trajectory, in accordance with the DCD.

A moving body, in particular, a torpedo, an-

aerial torpedo, or a balloon barrage carrying a For instance, if a torpedo may .pedoes, and be very effective.

detonator and explosive, may be attached as shown on Figure 53 to a flexible connection which is attached to the bottom of the sea or the ground, which bodies when propuls ed by a motor create a protective moving net of any predetermined desirable contour. Such moving bodies may be also propulsed by an electric motor connected by wires or through cables on which they are attached to the power-station situated on the ground or on a ship, as the case may be, providing thus a pi-cpulsicn during any desirable time.

Figure 53' shows a torpedo or a mine moving through the sea, attached to the bottom of the sea 253 by a cable 250 and operated by an electric motor receiving the current through wires 25l and 252 from a power-station. The same arrangement may be employed for an aerial torpedo able to maintain itself by its buoyancy in the air.

The balloons in present use, being immovable,

present a very easy target for the enemy. They may be equipped with an electric motor and a DCD and their attaching cables may be used as wires for transmitting the electiic energy from the ground thus enabling such balloons to pursue in particular, a balloon, or Zeppelin-like explosive-carrier.

For purposes of launching a' torpedo from an aeroplane, such torpedoes may be specially designed to beof any suitable or required dimensions. Also, small torpedoes may be used of about one-third the weight of the larger marine tor- They can be dropped, for instance, from a plane so that they fall somewhere inthe zone of their objective. If the zone is -a square 4x4 miles in area, then eight aeroplanes flying side by side, one parallel to the other, at a distance of one-half a mile apart from each other, each plane can drop eight torpedoes every half-mile of their flight. For purposes of additional safety and surety that the objective will be attained, two additional planes may fly a half-mile or a quarter-mile outside of .will start to pr'opulse-and make spirals, the

of Z1, Z8, Z9, Zlll, and when P3 is reached, the

torpedo may then start its last curve or spiral ,searching-enemys-ship trajectory, to cover the entire area 249 where the enemys ships are supposed tobelocated. When a torpedo is launched neighboring contoursof which may, for instance, be at a distance of 200 to 300 feet from each other. Each torpedo may describe from five to ten spirals while completely covering its respective one-half square mile, and this in such a manner that no enemy ship or objective can escape;

This is due to the fact that if, for purposes of example, ten spirals are made for each /2 square -mile, their neighboring contours of the same spiral will be only at approximately 132 feet from each other, hence, any object which is greater than 132 feet will be hit. Forstill greater safety, the width of the ship should, be taken into consideration. For instance, if the ships are 300 feet long and 100 feet wide, a spiral, the composing curvatures of which are at a distance at 100 feet apart, will cover the zone with 100% hitting efliciency. These eighty torpedoes will thus de-' stroy every ship in the zone. It the enemy's ships are in motion, two torpedoes can be dropped for each /2 square mile, in which case no moving-- ship will have a chance to escape the path of the trajectory. The 80 planes flying at a speed of 120 or 240 miles an hour will cross the zone in one or two minutes, so that the torpedoes will be dropped at an average of one approximately every '7 or 14 seconds. Hence, it is obvious that the enemy will have no time to counter-attack. Furthermore, the aeroplanes can drop the torpedoes from a height impossible to attain by anti-aircraft or pursuit ships. This tactic is given by way of example, only.

It is known that all Government arsenals, in particular, the arsenals of the United States, possess enormous reserves of obsolete mines and torpedoes, which cannot be effectively used in modem warfare. This invention permits' the use of such torpedoes and mines, even of those manufactured as ago as 1898, 1900, 1905, 1908 and 1910. This is one by mere application of the DCD the subject of this invention, to these obsolete mines or torpedoes, which, as a rule, will have enough room for such installment, inasmuch as this DCD device can be made as small as required in order to fit therein or thereon.

If necessary, such a DCD device can also be mounted on the surface of the obsolete torpedo or mine, as shown on Figures 62 and 63. Lever I40 of the same type of DCD as illustrated in Figures 49 and 50 (this embodiment is chosen by way of example, only) may be directly at-' tached to the axle I, as shown in Figure 62. The drum I50 may be interconnected with the motor by means of an axle 254 operatively connected with the motor of the torpedo and through a worm-gear or another gear-arrangement 255 to the drum I'50.', Such DCD (E) may be enclosed in a stream-lined casing 256 in which an aperture or slit is provided for the passage (E) device of the. same type as shown on Figure 62 in which case the lever I40 of Figure 62 operates first gear 200 and thereafter through chain III, the gear 250 and the vertical rudder. Such arrangement, by th choice of a larger diameter for gear 260 than or the gear 258 will thus permit the use-of a very narrow band, and the direction-giving width located between the line IIST and IIIR can be reduced to a very small dimension, and still ofler very exact control. of any desirable orientation of the vertical rudder.

Instead of gears 258 and 260, wheels or pulleys may be employed operatively interconnected by means of a flexible connection; One point of such flexible connection must be rigidly afllxed to the driven pulley which is rigidly attached to arenas? aflixed to the driving pulley. This is not sho on the drawing being self-explanatory.

0n the sea and in times of war, it may be expedient to have the direction band prepared by a member of the crew. This operator should have before him a map, in order to trace thereon with a pencil, the desired trajectory, beforehand, starting the said trajectory with a straight line. The map should be rigidly attached to, or.

able to slide perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, along a suitable drum or moving plate of some kind so that the said starting line of the trajectory coincides with the neutral position of the vertical rudder. Thereafter, when the band and the map are both displaced, one parallel to the other (the starting line of the map being parallel to the neutral line of the band), and, if deemed expedient, synchronized in such'a way that for each longitudinal displacement of the map, a desirable length of the band is also displaced-simultaneously and proportionately, both displacements proceeding at constant speeds, complete synchronization is .thereby achieved.

Suitable lever arrangements such as used, for example, for measuring the length of the curves or for reducing apparatus from big scale to small scale may also be employed, in which one lever will follow the contour on the map and another cut out the corresponding trajectory in the hand. If, for instance, the map is ten inches long and eight inches wide, and the band is 200 inches long, corresponding to 15 miles of trajectory, and if the trajectory is traced, and its range on the map be-ten inches, then the map has to move so that the range of the trajectory will be more or less proportionate to the length of the direction-giving contour of the band. Should such length be, for example, 15 miles, and more or less proportionately deviated from the line of range, then, to simplify this description, the map should be displaced 6 of an inch at a time, the band correspondingly moved two inches at a time, and for each displacement, the machine cutting the hand must cut the band in such a place that it will correspond at a known speed of torpedo, to the required displacement of the rudder necessary to produce the corresponding portion of the trajectory, allsuch cuts, one connected to the other, forming the direction-giving contour of the band.

A similartactic may be employed with a very high degree of success and eillciency for destroying the enemy's transports on sea in convoys. The pilot. of the aircraft carrying the torpedoes built according to this invention, must divide the length of the convoy into imaginary-sections and drop the torpedoes somewhere in the middle of the convoy, as well as in advance of it; The trajectory to be used for this particular aim may consist of a sinus-like curve traveling along the convoy in the same direction and at any suitable speed (or at a greater speed than that at which the convoy is moving). The trajectory may also be an elliptical spiral, the longitudinal axis of which is equal to the lengthof the convoy. Each curve composing the spiral, may, in addition, be sinus-like. If the convoy is about a mile long and five or ten torpedoes are launched, each ship of the convoy will unfailingly be hit because the trajectories will transverse in all directions a space of about one mile in length and about .a quarter or half a mile in width through which the convoy is moving- The total length of the torpedoes trajectories being (considthe axle of the rudder, and another point rigidly 7s ering, by way of example that each. tom

makes a trajectory 15 miles long), the entire convoy must, in consequence, without any interference or control by man-power, be destroyed. The enemy is powerless against this weapon.

The trajectory suitable for such standard targets as convoys, shores or ports, of an enemy zone of a definite contour, may easily be standardized, due to the fact that the most eflicient curves for each purpose maybe calculated. I

The new tactic offered by this direction-controlling device, the DCD which is the subject of this invention, cannot be conjectured or' discovered by the enemy, inasmuch as the trajectory -prescribed and predetermined by the DOD is unknown, thereby making it impossible for the enemy to be either forewarned or forearmed.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we

declare that what we claim is:

1. A moving body having a vertical and horizontal rudder, in particular, a torpedo, comprising at least one automatic direction-controlling device of the character referred to, composed of a long band freely movable longitudinally, one edge of said band being a straight line and the other edge being of a predetermined contour, a lever mounted to pivot about an axis which is fixed relatively to the moving body, said lever being provided on its one end with guide-means which continuously contact the said predetermined contour, with its other end operatively interconnected with the axle of at least one of said rudders, the said lever being urged towards the said contour by resilient means provided on said lever, rotatable members on which said band is wound and unwound, means establishing a synchronized operative interconnection of one of the said members with one of the shafts of the mechanism which propels the said moving body, whereby when the said moving body follows apredetermined trajectory of any expedient length and form, the said trajectory is at any point controlled and prescribed by the corresponding point of the said predetermined contour set forth in advance.

2. A moving body having a vertical and horizontal rudder, in particular, a torpedo, comprising at least one automatic direction-controlling device of the character referred to, composed of a long band freely movable longitudinally, one edge of said band being a straight line and the' other edge being of a predetermined contour, a lever mounted to pivot about an axis which is fixed relatively to the moving body, said lever being provided on its one end with guide-means which continuously contact the said contour, with its other end operatively interconnected with the axle of at least one of said rudders, the said lever being urged towards the said contour by resilient means provided on said lever, rotatable members on which said band is wound and unwound, means establishing a synchronized operative interconnection of one of the said memberswith one of the shafts of the mechanism which propels the said moving body, said guide means contacting the said contour perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, and parallel to the plane of the band, whereby when the said moving body follows a predetermined trajectory of any expedient length and form, the said trajectory is at any point controlled and prescribed by the corresponding point or the said predetermined contour;

set forth in advance.

3. A moving body having a vertical and horizontal rudder, in particular, a torpedo, comprising at least one automatic direction-controlling device ofthe character referred to, composed of a long band freely movable longitudinally, one edge of said band being a straight line and the other edge being of a predetermined contour, a lever mounted to pivot about an axis which is fixed relatively to the moving body, said lever 10 being provided on its one end with guide-means which continuously contact the said contour, with the other-end operatively interconnected with the axle of at least one of said rudders, the said lever being urged towards the said contour by resilient means provided on said lever, rotatable members on which said band is wound and unwound, means establishing a synchronized operative interconnection of one of the said members with one of the shafts of the mechanism which propels the said moving body, said band being provided with another guide-means which guides the straight edge of the said band, whereby when the said moving body follows a predetermined trajectory of any expedient length and form, the said trajectory is at any point prescribed by the corresponding point of the said predetermined contour set forth in advance.

4. A moving body having a vertical and horizontal rudder, in particular, a torpedo, comprising at least one automatic direction-controllin .device of the character referred to, composed of a long band freely movable longitudinally. one

edge of said band being a straight line and the other edge being of a predetermined contour, a 86 lever mounted to pivot about an axis which is fixed relatively to the moving body, said lever being provided on its one end with guide-means which continuously contact the said contour, with its other end operatively interconnected with the 40 axle of at least one of said rudders, the said lever being urged towards the said contour by resilient means provided on said lever,-rotatable members on which said band is wound and unwound, means establishing a synchronized operative interconnection of one of the said members with one of the shafts of the mechanism which propels the said moving body, said guide means consisting of a roller provided with runways to register the said predetermined contour, said roller being rotatable on an axle mounted on said lever, whereby when the said moving body follows a predetermined trajectory of any expedient length and I form, the said trajectoryis at any point prescribed by the corresponding point of the said predetermined contour set f rth in advance.

5. A moving body as set forth in claim 1, provided with at least two of said direction-controlling devices, one of which operates the vertical rudder and the other the horizontal rudder, whereby when the said moving body follows a predetermined trajectory in two planes, the said trajectory is at any point prescribed by the corresponding point of the said predetermined contour set forth in advance.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the said automatic direction-controlling device is mounted on'the outer wall of said moving body and a stream-lined protective covering provided on said outer wall and housing said controlling GEORGE A. RUBISSOW. 

